Trials: They're weakness leaving the body

Hi everyone. What's the greatest miracle you have seen this week? Whether big or small, I know all of you saw many.

It has been a rollercoaster of a week, and a theme that I have noticed throughout is that no matter how your day was, you can ALWAYS see something good in it.

It can be something as simple as having another day. Another day to live and breathe and move. That is a miracle in and of itself.

There hasn't been a drastic amount of progress in the past week unfortunately, so today, I will be dedicating my weekly to listing all the small miracles:

1. Bonnie

One afternoon, Sister Christenson and I were walking and we saw a woman sitting on the curb. We were getting closer and we said, "Hello!".

....not even a reaction.

At that point, many conversations that start like that is a sign that they don't want to talk to us, but we go into the street and face her to talk.

She had long hair that covered her face slightly and she looked worn out- physically and emotionally.

We began to get to know her a little bit and we explained our purpose and roles as missionaries. We asked her if she would like a picture of Jesus Christ and she said, "yes, I actually would really like one."

She told us about some of the recent struggles we have gone through and it gave us an opportunity to talk to her about the love God has for her and how Christ can sympathize with her through His Atonement. We invited her to come to church with us and even though she respectfully declined, before we left she said, "Thank you for stopping and talking to me. I really needed it and I know it was a sign from God."

It was amazing to see the light in her eyes grow as we talked about Jesus Christ and it made me feel so good that we played a part in being an answer to her prayer.

2. Aurora

Aurora was baptized back in June and this past week we had our very last lesson with her. On Friday she left to go to college, so we focused the lesson on the importance of scripture Study and prayer, and finding the little moments to do it despite a busy school schedule. She loved how we tailored the lessons to her needs and I absolutely love lessons like those- where it feels so much more like a discussion rather than a "lesson".

It was so hard to say goodbye to her and I actually got teary-eyed! I know that I have learned so much more from her than she does from us. She is such a good example to me of shining faith and a determination to do what is right.

3. Talks with Sister Christenson

We've been doing a LOT of walking this past week, which I've enjoyed, and it's given me more opportunities to talk to her. We've been telling each other a lot of stories and especially this last week, I am so thankful for her support and love.

One day as we were walking, we talked about a couple things that we are grateful for at home that we miss (Chick Fil A, homecooked dinners, jeans, etc. etc.). But the amazing thing, is that literally only a couple minutes later, we started rattling off all the things we love are grateful for as missionaries, that we just can't do or have at home (the ability to call ourselves missionaries, to invite ourselves to people's houses and share messages, to give promised blessings, to wear nametags, to not worry about anything else other than our ward and those we teach, and SO much more we cannot even name!). I am so lucky to be a missionary, especially with the wonderful sisters I am here with.

4. Exchanges with Sister Hair

I was blessed to go on another exchange with Sister Hair this past week and it was a BLAST! I went to Dayton for the day and it is so cute and reminds me so much of Amity.

We get along super well and I just love teaching with her. I still can't believe she is still in training; if I could guess, I would say she's been out closer to 9 months! She is just so good at teaching and she was a super good example to me of teaching simply and the importance of establishing a connection with those we teach.

5. My roommates

I am blessed to live in the same apartment as the Forest Grove 2nd sisters, Sister Child and Sister Johnson. Man, do we have a party! They keep me laughing and they know just how to help me and I love it so much. I feel so spoiled to have these three sisters with me!

God is so good!

6. Analogies

I'm a very visual learner I've come to realize and I've been thinking about this one a lot.

Last week, I was talking to my previous companion, Sister Leifson, about one of the things I was struggling with. I compared it to how we all have mountains (obstacles) in our lives, and she said, "We all have our mountains, but that's why we have walking sticks to give us support, and good shoes that will carry you. You need a backpack full of water and snacks to keep you nourished."

I thought about that during the week...and it's SO true. I was thinking about what those things can symbolize in our lives as we hike the mountains we face.

The walking sticks are like our friends and family. They are there to give to support and energy to get up and go over the hard parts. Sometimes they keep you from falling and they keep you balanced.

The hiking shoes we wear is the relationship we have with our Heavenly Father. Without them, it would make the hike SO much more painful. He helps us to feel comfort as we go through the hard times and the good times and every moment in between, as long as we make the decision to put the shoes on.

The backpack full of nutrition are the decisions we can make to feel the Spirit in our lives, such as reading the scriptures, praying, going to church and so much more. They will give us strength and energy as we hike the trail and will ultimately sustain us.

But, we can also decide to put other things in our backpacks. Thoughts of doubt, fear or anger towards the mountains we face only put rocks in our backpacks. That, I promise, will only make the hike harder and may ultimately cause us to fall and have no desire or energy to get back up.

I know that holding onto the principles of the gospel we know to be true and remaining strong in our faith can sustain us. I have a testimony of it because I have seen it in my life countless times.

The Book of Mormon has given me peace in trials that I know I can not get anywhere else. I know that prayer has kept my anger, bubbling questions and confusion at bay and has helped me to reach out in faith and seek His will instead of my own.

I love this gospel and the knowledge it gives me of eternal families. I am far from home, and have been for a long time, but I have felt their prayers especially this week. I am so thankful for my family, no matter how immediate or distant, and the support they have for me in being here on a mission.

I love my Savior and I am forever in debt for what He has done for me and continues to do for me.

I love this gospel and I love you all! Have a wonderful week! Talk to you in a week!

All my love

Sister McCown

I've been converted to the gospel...and blackberries! :)

Hello, world! How has everyone's weeks been? I hope everyone has been able to see the little miracles in each day and really appreciate how much God has blessed us with...because I PROMISE there has been more than you could even count!

I can't even begin to count how many blessings Sister Christenson and I have seen this past week, but here are just a few:

Miracles do really happen even in the trials of life...and I believe that sometimes our trials happen BECAUSE we need to see the miracle!

Ash was that miracle. Last Monday, we went to a berry picking farm (it was so therapeutic and I will attach pictures below!) and we must've drove over something, because later that night we got a notice that the air pressure in one of our tires was low. The rest of the tires were in the high 30's and one tire was in the low 20's.

Tuesdays are known as our "car fast days" which pretty much means we are not allowed to use our cars on Tuesday, no matter what! We were in a pickle...

We call our mission leader in charge of the cars and he said we needed to take it into the shop. Luckily, it wasn't too far away. We get in the car that Tuesday afternoon...and the air pressure in the tire dropped to an EIGHT! We were so shocked but got to the tire place safely.

While waiting the hour and a halfish for the tire to be fixed, we did some studies and then sifted through our area book. We wanted to go outside and talk to people, but we were trying to guess how much longer it would take. In the midst of our mental battle, a person sitting near us began talking to us.

His name is Ash and in the next half hour we talked to him, we came to find out his amazing story of living and migrating from the Philippines and all his stories with meeting missionaries there. It was so cool and we were able to teach a lot about what we do as missionaries. It was so cool!

This past week, I also went on exchanges with Hermana Stoker, a spanish missionary currently serving in McMinnville. We actually came out together and I've wanted so badly to get to know her, so the exchange was a blast! We were flying everywhere with all the lessons and people we had to visit that day, and out of all the places we had to go, we only had time to talk to ONE person! But that one individual was so prepared and so amazing. That conversation we had with her....I haven't felt the Spirit like that in a long time!

We were walking out of a lesson in a retirement home and we saw Jaime sitting in her car, eating and car window rolled down. She was parked right next to ours (haha, perfect!), so it was easy to talk to her.

We explained what we do as missionaries and we asked her how her faith in Christ has blessed her. I loved her answer that Christ has helped her in the hard times because He lifts her up and gives her strength. Mosiah 24:14 came to my mind, so we shared it with her. This verse is God talking to a group of people that are under bondage of others. He says to His people,

"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."

I felt the Spirit so strongly as we testified to her how the Book of Mormon can give her added strength and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We gave her a different passage to read in the Book of Mormon and the light and love in her eyes as we gave it to her...I haven't seen that in such a long time. I could see how open her heart was to our message and I felt the Spirit nudge me to tell her how much God loves her. She agreed when I said that we were meant to meet her that day and that we both felt the Spirit as we talked to her.

Those conversations...they just aren't seen every day and I know that was a huge miracle from God. I was sad to find out that she actually lives in Beaverton (not even in our area, but also outside our mission), but in the end, I am just so excited for her to feel God's love as she reads the Book of Mormon and learns more about the unique message we teach about Christ. And hey, all of us missionaries...we're all on the same team anyways! It doesn't really matter who teaches her!

This past weekend I was also able to see Alanna Anderson (a missionary who I used to serve in Forest Grove with and recently went home a few months ago!)!!! She came to Oregon to visit with her family and oh my goodness, it was so fun to see her! Her family brought us Chick Fil A for dinner (they are seriously saints) and I loved every second of it. Her hugs are healing and she has no idea the true impact she has made in my life or of those around her.

This past weekend I also finished the Book of Mormon again! It was an amazing experience and I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to read it again, and for the time I will have to read it yet AGAIN! It reminds me of a quote from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Those who have read the Book of Mormon prayerfully...Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts...the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."

I am a witness of this promise. No matter how many times I have read it or will read it, my testimony of Jesus Christ as our Savior and as my Friend has only grown stronger and deeper. I felt the reality of His Atonement and I know the Book of Mormon is a testament of Him. I know this promise works, because I have studied it and I have been prayerful about it.

I am so thankful for this gospel and I love my Heavenly Father. I know my Savior lives, and that through Him, we can access peace beyond what we can find by ourselves.

I want to end with this scripture, one that I memorized with my first companion, Sister Schmoekel. It has been "my strength and my song" (2 Nephi 22:2):

John 14:27- "Peace I leave with you, peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

If you reach out to Him, I promise that He will give you peace in that moment. Even if the situation around you does not change immediately, He will give you immediate peace, and from there, He will give you guidance and hope. I know these things to be true because I have felt them in my life. And what a sacred responsibility and privilege I have to share that with everyone we meet.

I love you all and I hope you have a wonderful week. I would love to hear from anyone!

All my love

Sister McCown

Boom, pow, punch them with the Spirit!

Hello everyone! How has the past 7 days? What has been hard, and what miracles have you seen! It's crazy to think how much has happened within the past 7 days! More than I could write in an email!

Okay, to explain the subject line. I was talking to my companions about how we could have the Spirit more in lessons and conversations we have with people, because it is so crucial! We talked about a ton of different ways so I said, "Boom, pow, punch them with the Spirit!" They laughed really hard at me, and I was like, "Wait, no we probably shouldn't punch them!" It was pretty funny, so now it's a big joke in our apartment.

I've felt such an increase of the Spirit throughout this past week and it has been amazing. I know that the Holy Ghost has guided me in every footstep I make and every word I say. How else could I hope to do His work effectively?

Last Monday we saw the Wildes and it was soo fun! Sister Wilde (the mission Presidents wife) and Brecklyn, their daughter, joined us to do tie dye shirts and it was the funnest thing! I love spending time with them and to top it off, they treated us with frozen yogurt!

On Tuesday....I SAW MY TRAINER and first companion in the field....drum roll please- the legendary SISTER SCHMOEKEL! She went home back in December and I haven't seen her since then. We met her and some of her family at a Mexican restaurant and despite the short time I was able to talk to her, it was so fun!

On Wednesday, Sister Christenson and I went to Newberg for MLC, the monthly council between missionaries of the mission. It was super good and we discussed adapting practices of the mission and how we can help struggling missionaries.

Because of that, President and Sister Wilde felt inspired to compile scriptures and quotes from modern day prophets focused on hope. They asked all of us missionaries to do the same thing, and then they will compile it all and then distribute it to all the missionaries. Just think of it...150+ people combining together to put together pieces of hope to help one another.

I got so excited and began dedicated time each day during my personal Study to search for scriptures and quotes, and it has already helped me beyond comprehension! I have felt the peace last throughout the day and I know it will help so many missionaries!

Here is just one quote that I found that I love.

This is from Jeffrey R. Holland: "If we give our heart to God, if we love the Lord Jesus Christ, if we do the best we can to live the gospel, then tomorrow—and every other day—is ultimately going to be magnificent, even if we don’t always recognize it as such. Why? Because our Heavenly Father wants it to be! He wants to bless us. A rewarding, abundant, and eternal life is the very object of His merciful plan for His children! It is a plan predicated on the truth “that all things work together for good to them that love God.” So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."

HUGE miracle that Sister Christenson  and I saw this past week:

Last weekend during a lesson with an active member family, we asked them to pray about a street for us to go tracting on. This is another way we wanted to get the members involved in missionary work.

After the dad said a very sincere prayer, he picked Ginger St. when looking at our ward boundaries.

On Thursday we went to this street before a meeting, and while we are going door to door, it begins to rain. The weather app did not forewarn us, so we didnt think to bring coats. We begin getting pretty wet when we knock on a door. A man opens it and his wife behind him yells for us to come out of the rain. Of course, we obey!

We end up staying a half hour after Erica gives us towels to dry off and teach her about the Restoration. She was so open and it was so cool to see that because we didnt have coats, she was willing to have a longer conversation with us. Hmmm... maybe we'll go without our coats more often!🤣

By the time we got out of that impromptu lesson, we had a meeting in 10 minutes but it was more than a half hour walk there....so- we run!

We probably looked so funny as we were running, but what else were we supposed to do?? Luckily, the rain caused many of the people to stay inside.

When we were running past the park, this van pulls up beside us and a woman yells out the window, "Sisters! Get in, we know you're late somewhere!" Without saying anything, we hop in the car and tell her how much she was an answer to our prayer!

She was actually a member in a neighboring city and she said that she knows if she ever sees two girls running in dresses and holding purses, it has to be Sister missionaries late to an appointment! So...if any of you see running missionaries- stop and offer a ride! :)

This past week I also had exchanges with Sister Child and I slept in the neighboring room of our apartment for the night. It was funny being in a "different area" for a day, but also not really.

I love Sister Child though! She is an amazing missionary and an amazing person. I've been able to live with her in the same apartment for the past 5ish months and man- do we always have the best time! I love her to death, so I felt like I was just with another one of my greatest friends for the day!

One thing I have been working really hard on this past week is focusing on having more charity for people as we talk to them in the streets. I've had this nasty habit of seeing people more as "another TTI" and just as a number, rather than as a child of God. I've honestly forgotten to count people now and it has made THE WORLD of difference! I've noticed that I have a greater desire to talk to people, I'm overall so much happier and the quality of my teaching has improved! even if they don't accept what we say at that time, I feel the Spirit so much more strongly when I talk to them with love and I know they feel the Spirit too. It gives me more comfort to know that I tried my absolute hardest and more hope that we will find people who will accept the gospel in the near future.

I love this gospel and I love being a missionary. I love being able to help others learn more about Christ, because there is no one else that could provide us with more peace, love, guidance and assurance in our futures than Him.

Thank you everyone for all your love and support! I would love to hear from anyone!

Sister McCown

Keep Preachin'...all day every day

Hello friends and family! How are y'all doing?

It has been another good week here in Forest Grove, and this one seemed to dip by pretty fast!

This week was pretty hot and, despite being born and raised in Arizona, I was not prepared for it. Yeah, I might be used to feeling the sweat down my back, squinting hard in the bright sun and feeling the heat on my neck from my dark hair...but it is COMPLETELY different to proselyte in. That, and Oregon is just much more humid than Arizona, which raises it to a whole new level.

Nonetheless, Sister Christenson and I hit the streets and spent many hours of the week walking and walking and talking and walking. We were able to meet a few pretty cool people and I know it was Heavenly Father who gave us the strength we needed to press forward in the 90-degree-weather and 50-percent humidity.

One plus of being in the Oregon summer...BLACKBERRIES! We are always on the lookout for blackberry bushes on the side of the streets and neighborhoods and we take a couple-second break in search for the ripe ones. I once again thank my dear first companion, Sister Schmoekel, for making me try new fruits and converting me to loving berries. There is no going back!

We had an amazing lesson with a member family this past week! They have a full house with unique circumstances that some family members have, but their love for the gospel was so abundant in the room as we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The grandma is unable to go to church due to health problems, and I noticed that as we began the lesson, she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes with the sweetest smile on her face, as if she were listening to a beautiful song. The lesson itself was very powerful and you could tell this family had deep roots in the gospel as they have faced many recent trials. At the end of the lesson, we asked if there was anything we could do for them, the father replied with, "No, you already did."

My heart warmed at how much this message we had shared with them and the presence of the Spirit they were able to bring could help them so much. We really do have a much greater influence on others than we think!

Funny story!

Sister Christenson and I were walking one afternoon, and when we came to a high school that is notorious for always having hispanic people walk/run around the open track of the school at any given time of the day, we see this older hispanic man walking towards us towards the track. He had headphones in his ear, but when we tried to get him to stop and talk to us, he said in broken English, "Oh no...next time!" and then went along his way.

We kinda shrugged it off, but when we walked past the track again 20 minutes later towards home, we once again saw the same man walking away from the track towards us. We were trying to hide the smiles, but when he got close enough to recognize us, he laughed and exclaimed, "Oh my goodness...ok I say next time!" But due to our very limited spanish, we gave him a pamphlet in Spanish and invited him to check out the website.

It was so funny- who knows what will come from that interaction- Heavenly Father definitely placed us in his path for a reason!

This past week we also had exchanges! Sister Mecham came to Forest Grove with me for the day and it was so fun! This was my second exchange with her and it was super fun to get to know her more. She has an amazing ability to teach by the Spirit with so much sincerity and it was a great example to me! I know that exchanges are inspired and that she was an answer to my prayers!

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers. This past week I've had the opportunity to face some decisions in my life that I needed some big guidance on. Through prayer, fasting and a priesthood blessing that I received earlier this week, I was able to remember the sacred feeling of receiving answers to prayer. There is nothing quite like it!

I know that Heavenly Father answers our prayers because He loves us and we are His. If we turn to Him in prayer and reach out in faith, He will help us to know what to do. We are agents unto ourselves, and we have agency, but if we turn to Him with our decisions and ask them if it be right, He will help us to know. I most often recognize answers through emotions of peace, or through others.

The definition of prayer in the Bible Dictionary is, "not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves blessings that God is already willing to grant to us, conditional on our asking for them."

Please turn to Him in prayer and pour out your heart to Him. He will listen and He will help us, because we are all His children and He will never forsake us.

I love this work and I love my Savior. I am so thankful to wear His name on my chest each day and there is nothing else I would rather do that this time in my life.

I love you all and hope you have a good week!

Love

Sister McCown